Author Topic: DC Resistance?? (Read 4839 times)

JamesHealey · « **on:** April 16, 2006, 06:37:13 PM »

What exactly is DC Resistance? how does it affect the sound is it purely the output of the pickup or is it something else?

just browsing the DiMarzio site and it's got "output" and "DC Resistance" i always thought the DC was the output? or am i really confused lol.

MDV · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2006, 08:19:41 PM »

Its the resistance of the length wire to D irect C urrent.

Its bassically and estimate of the length of the wire: longer = more turns = higher output, with the same magnet.

dave_mc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2006, 10:06:26 PM »

yeah, but with DM it's better to look at the output, since they use strange wire guages or something (i'm just recycling what MDV told me, lol), and it's true, since the X2N has a lower DC than the tone zone, but is much hotter.

I think the basic gist is, if everything is equal, Bigger DC = hotter. of course, very rarely is everything equal, lol.

downrodeo · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2006, 10:12:24 PM »

After checking out DMs for a while but deciding to go with BKs (better idea!) I've had this same question. It still mystifies ME! An explanation would be great.

MDV · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2006, 10:21:44 PM »

The narrower the wire the higher the resistance for the same length, and vice versa. But the output depends on the number of turns around the coil.

downrodeo · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2006, 10:23:40 PM »

Aha! Glad to figure it out. Hopefully the new site will have a more comprehensive guide to give those prospective BKP users a better idea of what they'll get from their new p/ups.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2006, 10:29:43 PM »

In (very) general terms you can say that the higher the DC resistance, the hotter the pickup. That is oversimplifying things to a huge degree though - the resonant peak plays a part and can make a less-hot pickup sound hotter than one with a higher dc resistance.

:twisted:

dave_mc · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2006, 01:26:14 PM »

Quote from: MDV

The narrower the wire the higher the resistance for the same length, and vice versa. But the output depends on the number of turns around the coil.

yeah, that's the one.

cheers

MDV · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2006, 11:47:54 PM »

By the way, just some FYI:

'Output' in mV, a-la Dimarzio: perfectly decent way to measure the output of a pickup.

BUT

You have to keep a large number of variables constant:

String guage
String type + material
How hard you hit the strings.
Which strings you hit
What fret

So if you have a load of pickups and have a set method that eliminates the other variables, like, say, using 10-46 GHS in E with the same person hitting a 12th fret harmonic on the low E, then its a good way to compare them. But you cant compare one brand to another.

For example, bartolini have an output chart that has the X2N on it, as measured by Bartolini, and its about 270mV.

Just so you know!

Edited for "low"

Dakine · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:05:38 AM »

all very true
Missed this (and did my training long ago).

bigger wire (cross section) = less resistance

Think of it like a street. Wider equals easier to drive.
Number of wraps = buildup of field = hotter

Variables, just like MDV said are endless.

Think of two 1.6ltr car engines. One will qoute X horsepower/mpg, whilst Y will qoute different.

It is a never ending story.

Type of magnet used, wire gauge,number of windings, type of wire, purity content of wire, etc. etc.

Basically BKP's are handmade and of top notch materials. This alone is enough to set them apart from massproduced products.

Also, due to "man vs. machine" variables, you could say EVERY BKP pickup is slightly unique :) Even more special!

MDV · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2006, 01:35:53 AM »

Quote from: MDV

The narrower the wire the higher the resistance for the same length, and vice versa.....

I didnt miss it mate! Just didnt explain it strictly, for the non-scientific audience ;)

Tim · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2006, 07:44:47 PM »

DC res is a rough guide only and not really of much use when comparing two p/ups wound with different wire gauge.Equally millivolt output is also a difficult one to tie down as no two players will ever get the same reading-hence the 'it's in the hands'saying.A Warpig loaded guitar with heavy gauge strings and heavy pick played by me will sound nothing like the same guitar and pickup played by someone else with extra light strings and pick-we'd also produce quite different millivolt readings and within reason different resonant peaks too(always an interesting one as most guitar speakers won't reproduce the quoted res peaks of some makers pickups!!)
So...........how do you compare?
Well after spending years looking at all the different criteria I keep coming back to the old 'ears' and generally they, in conjunction with my hands, never let me down.Obviously this is based on the luxury of being able to try all the pickups in a variety of guitars whenever I want.Anyway, the new site will have a clean and dirty lick played through the same amp/guitar for every p/up to put you immediately into the ballpark also a 5 band visual eq chart of the tone as I percieve it.Hopefully that, coupled with demo guitars in the every growing worldwide dealerships will let you make your own minds up and not worry overly about what a bit of paper says.
Funnily enough some boffins at Cambridge have offered to run a multitude of tests on BKPs as part of their course work but I very much doubt I'll ever use any of the data as it'd only confuse things more especially if a different set of criteria were introduced.At the end of the day data can be made to represent whatever you like.Me, I'm just interested in the sound and playing the guitar.

JamesHealey · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2006, 02:36:45 PM »

cool cheers guys thats all i needed to know :)